74

74

Killian’s POV

“What in the sun god’s name is this?” I asked, looking at the elder who had just displayed a disgusting degree of foolishness I had never seen in my entire life. How can you pick a wife for me? A whole me, Alpha of the Blackwood pack in all my glory and strength?

It seemed too foolish a thing to do and to think that this done by an elder nauseates me terribly. “You are not a complete Alpha without a Luna by your side. The earlier you settle down the better for you, that is if you desire to have heirs,” Elder Favian further advertised his unsolicited advice.

“Who is concerned with being a complete Alpha? I love the way my life is going or haven’t I ruled the pack with a strong hand?” I asked trying to justify myself and make excuses for not having gotten a mate to settle down with.

Within me, I knew that I wanted to be complete like every other person in the pack but I wasn’t yet ready to let go of my carefree life with women to focus on what matters a home. “You know, son, if your father had put an attitude like yours, you wouldn’t be standing here today. Face your fears now and conquer them,” he dished out.

“Are you saying I am feeble-minded and weak?” I asked, intentionally twisting his narrative and reading a different meaning to what he said. “I will have nothing to do with this young girl that you have brought here today. You will return with her to where you came from immediately. I have no interest in this topic. Never bring this up with me again,” I warned, summoning some bit of power into the warning I dished out to make him back off for good. The girl looked so shy and cold, she wasn’t even the type of lady I would want to have a thing with let alone wife her up. Poor thing!

“The lady you see standing beside me is my daughter. As you can see for yourself, she has all a man can ever ask for in a woman and she has been chosen by the council to be the future Luna of this pack,” he announced, pointing his finger towards his daughter with an air of pride that came with a measure of insistence.

Disgust in my eyes, I looked from his face to that of his daughter and back to his face. “The pack is under serious attack from the rogues and all the council can come up with in a time like this is a marriage pact with your family. Where has our focus gone? Why are we having a misplaced priority at a crucial time like this?” Is that the best your greyish heads can come up with?” I spat bitterly at him.

My beta, Liam, stood at a spot signalling me with both of his hands to stay calm and not overreact. “You see, son,” he started again. “I am no son of yours,” I shot back immediately. My patience was beginning to grow thin. Elder Favian looked at me with shock on his face.

“You see like I was trying to say to you, now is the best time to consider the marriage pact the council has arranged for you. You are going into battle soon and we do not pray for evil to befall us,” he paused to catch his breath before he continued, “Peradventure you go into the battle and never return alive, you would have an heir to the throne who would be nurtured to take after you or do you plan to leave the pack unmanned?” he asked rhetorically.

“So, it’s not enough that you are trying your best to force a marriage I do not want on me, you now wish me ill luck. What do you exactly mean by, what if I go into battle and do not return?” My brows furrowed into askance.

“You are missing the point, Killian, No one wishes you death. Of course, we need you alive to groom your heir by yourself but you need to make that decision to settle down. While it can be done anytime you want, you should do it before you go on this battle. The pack cannot be unmanned,” he explained, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead.

“Elder Favian, my ears are full for the day, one more word and my ears would spill over with pus. You don’t want that, do you? So please, I would love to attend to other pressing issues. The day is still fresh and wasting it is not an option,” I said to him point-blank.

“Are you asking me to walk out of your office?”
“You have said it all, please, do yourself the honour. The door is yours to use as you please,” I concluded, stretching my hands towards the door with a frown etched on my face.

“Killian?”
“Now, please, I won't repeat myself” I responded with a firm tone of voice, my finger still pointing at the door. “Call in the guards, Liam,” I ordered my beta as a way to scare them, hence propelling them into action. It worked, Elder Favian stood up immediately, held the hands of her daughter and throttled out of my office with his tail in between his legs.

“Come to think of it, the marriage idea is a very crucial matter you should pay attention to. I would suggest that you accept the marriage offer,” my beta coughed out with a blank look on his face. I looked piercingly into his face but he didn’t flinch one bit.
“I would choose my Luna myself. At least, I should be given the right to choose who to settle down with. Someone I love and can take care of,”

“We all know that you do not love anyone. You do not even have the fortitude to stick to one woman,” Liam shot back.

I spent my time trying to convince Liam that I no longer slept around and was in love with a lady.

“I love her but she hates my guts,” I wore a pensive look as I spoke.

“He has a point, Killian. You should consider the marriage ”